Hopes dim for farm bill this year

5:04 PM,
Dec. 5, 2013

Milk Bottle, Glass of Milk, Cheese, Butter and a Spoon

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Members of Congress are still trying to hammer out a compromise on a five-year farm bill, but hopes are dimming that they will succeed by the end of the year, when a provision affecting dairy is set to expire.

"I'm optimistic about getting the farm bill done, I'm pessimistic that it'll be done by Dec. 30," said Rep. Reid Ribble, the only member of Wisconsin's congressional delegation with a seat on the House Agriculture Committee.

That means members of Congress will once again have to pass a temporary extension if they want to avert going over the so-called milk cliff as the system reverts back to a ...